Research Project on Church Reproduction

Research Update Dec 1 – I am just about done with the interviews of primary and secondary leaders of 6 churches. I wanted these churches to be as much as a cross-section as possible. These churches are located in 6 different regions of Japan (out of 7 regions). Two of these churches are independent and the others come from 4 different denominations. The mother churches were started from the late 1950s to just recently and at the time of the questionnaire were averaging 40 to 250 for Sunday attendance. These six churches planted a total of 62 churches since 1984, which means each church averaged 10 church plants in an average time span of 14.5 years. The total average attendance of these 62 church plants is 1244 or an average of 20 per daughter church. The mother churches are located in various rural and urban cities and suburbs. The churches daughtered were in both rural and urban areas. The data from over 30 church questionnaires and from 14 personal interviews are being processed now to determine what categories for leadership characteristics have been found for these church reproducing leaders.

Research Project

I am excited to introduce to you a major research project on reproducing churches in Japan. I want to find out why some Japanese leaders are successful in reproducing churches. The purpose of this project will be to describe the characteristics of leaders for church reproduction. The study will try to be as inclusive as possible regarding regions of Japan, denominations, church models and the like.

• This major research project is endorsed by Japan Evangelical Missionary Association – Church Planting Institute (CPI)
• This is part of doctoral level academic research in missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School School of World Mission and Evangelism www.tiu.edu.
• Click here for more information and details.
• 日本語での調査についての詳細

Please help us with this project

• Please ask God to bless this research project for his glory.

• Please complete these points by EMAILING (click here) to my address, leaving a note at “Contact Us”, or leaving a comment on the blog page. Feel free to copy and paste these points.

1. I am aware of these churches that have reproduced at least three times. (Church Name, denomination, location or address, etc.) (Leader’s name, Phone number)

2. Please contact these people as they may be able to help you with information on reproducing churches (name, location, contact information).

3. These may be some sources of information on reproducing churches.